This post has taken some time for us to post because we hate to admit that it's true! After 11 incredible years at Maple Ridge Elementary, we are saying goodbye to Mrs. Sara Matis at the end of this school year. As the founding principal who opened Maple Ridge, she helped build not just a school, but a community grounded in care, high expectations, and a deep commitment to students.

She is loved by parents, students, teachers, and staff alike for her dedication and remarkable ability to make everyone feel known and valued. In fact, she knows the names of nearly all 775 Maple Ridge students—a reflection of how deeply she cares about each child who walks through the doors.

Mrs. Matis' leadership has always been centered on what matters most: students. She is a true champion for learning and consistently advocates for what is best for kids. Because of her vision and heart, Maple Ridge is the special place it is today.

While we are excited for the students and community she will serve in Santaquin at Orchard Hills Elementary, she will be deeply missed at Maple Ridge. Thank you Mrs. Matis for 11 years of incredible leadership, care, and dedication! We love you!
2 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Sara Matis in front of Maple Ridge holding flowers.
Congratulations to these Maple Ridge 5th graders who were award winning students from the 2026 Nebo Elementary STEM Fair. All of the award winners are invited to participate in the Central Utah Fair at BYU on March 18th. We wish all our students good luck! We are proud of you!
2 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
List of Maple Ridge district science fair winners.
Students holding their certificates.
Students holding their certificates.
Students holding their certificates.
Students in Mrs. Barlow's 2nd grade made a Valentine's Day craft as part of their Valentine's Day celebration.
3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Second grade students making a Valentine's Day craft.
Second grade students making a Valentine's Day craft.
Second grade students making a Valentine's Day craft.
Valentine's Day fun in Mrs. Mathews' 4th grade class.
3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Two boys sitting at desks with cups and straws.
Students playing bingo.
Students at desks participating in various activities.
Students decorating cookies.
Students decorating cookies.
Students decorating cookies.
Mrs. Williams’ first graders just finished one of the best units in CKLA knowledge. They learned all about the layers of the Earth, fossils, dinosaurs, and the different types of rocks and minerals.
3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students showing their diagrams of the earth's crust.
Students showing their diagrams of the earth's crust.
Students holding up different types of rocks.
Students holding up different types of rocks.
Students holding up different types of rocks.
Students using treats to study layers of the earth.
Students using treats to study layers of the earth.
Students using treats to study layers of the earth.

Valentine's Day fun in Mrs. Williams' first grade!

3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students with their Valentine boxes.
Students with their Valentine boxes.
Students with their Valentine boxes.
Students with their Valentine boxes.
Students with their Valentine boxes.
Students with their Valentine boxes.
Students making bracelets with a parent helper.
Students making a bookmark with a parent helper.
Students playing a game with a parent helper.
Students eating cookies.

At the beginning of February, we celebrated National School Counselor Week by recognizing our school counselor, Ms. Bree. We are grateful for her and all she does to help us at Maple Ridge! Thank you Ms. Bree!

3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Ms. Bree and a student.

Ms. Vela was chosen by the Maple Ridge faculty as Maple Ridge’s Teacher of the Year for 2025-26. Carla Vela exemplifies the very best of what it means to be an outstanding educator. She holds high expectations for her students while creating a warm and caring classroom where respect, unity, and kindness are taught daily. Ms. Vela is also a true leader among her colleagues, welcoming other teachers into her classroom to observe and learn from her practice. Even with her exceptional skills, she seeks out opportunities to be coached and continually seeks ways to improve. Her positive attitude, genuine smile, and encouragement for everyone she meets make her a treasured member of the Maple Ridge faculty. Her teammate, Meredith Berglund said, "Carla is simply amazing! Her classroom is a place where students feel safe, seen, loved, and encouraged! She has the kind of impact on students that lasts far beyond a single school year. I’m thankful every day to share a hallway and friendship with a teacher as dedicated and compassionate as Carla!"

Congratulations Carla!

3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Carla Vela with flowers and Teacher of the Year poster.
Carla Vela with flowers.
Maple Ridge wants to thank Mike Hamilton for the amazing "Magic in Learning" assembly on Friday. Students learned how their choices are important and how they impact others. Mr. Hamilton taught us how we can be kind to one another and support each other here at Maple Ridge. We also want to thank Les Schwab of Santaquin for sponsoring this wonderful event! Thank you Les Schwab for supporting schools in Utah. You are awesome!
3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Magician with a student doing a trick with a balloon.
Magician with a group of students.
Magician, Mike Hamilton, posing with a class of 2nd graders and their thank you note.
Students in awe of what they are seeing at the magic show assembly.
Students waiting for the magic show assembly to start.
Congratulations to these students for being our Students of the Month for December/January. They were recognized for being perseverant. We are so proud of all of them! (Not pictured: Addilyn Sell, Graham Ehlert, Lacey Carter, Austin Guapo Hartgraves, Macy Sessions, Harlow Hutchings, Millie Clark, and Dylan Maciel)
3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students in the foyer holding their certificates.
A big thank you to Springville Rotary who generously donated a dictionary to each of our Maple Ridge third graders!
3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
A third grade class with their dictionaries.
A rotary member showing third graders a dictionary.
Maple Ridge fourth graders have been learning about geology during language arts. Mrs. Mathew's class was lucky enough to have Malachi's Great Grandpa Gatten, who is a geologist, come and share his knowledge with the class. Students even got their own bag of rocks to study. Thank you, Mr. Gatten!
3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Mr. Gatten and students looking at rocks.
Mr. Gatten and a student looking at a rock.
Mr. Gatten and a student looking at a rock.
Mr. Gatten and a student looking at a rock.
Mr. Gatten and a student looking at a rock.
Students looking at rocks.
Students looking at rocks.
We are enjoying having Ms. Jones at Maple Ridge for these next couple of months. She is one of our district arts specialists who is helping teachers add engagement into their lessons using dance and movement. She was recently in Mrs. Curby's third grade helping with a math lesson!
3 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students laying on the floor during a lesson with Ms. Jones where she was adding movement to a lesson.
Ms. Jones with 3 students showing some movement during a lesson.
Maple Ridge fourth graders were able to go and hear the Utah Symphony at Payson High School. They enjoyed the concert!
4 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students waiting in the auditorium for the symphony to start.
Students dressed up and ready for the symphony.
Students dressed up and ready for the symphony.
Students dressed up and ready for symphony.
Congratulations to these students for being recognized as Maple Ridge Students of the Month. These students were recognized for being grateful. We are proud of them! (Not pictured: Caden Herman, Cora Wyman, Harper Simonsen, Brookson Measom, Kable Cervantes)
4 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students in the school front foyer holding their certificates.
Merry Christmas from Maple Ridge faculty and staff! Enjoy your break!
4 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Kindergarten teachers.
First grade teachers.
Fourth grade teachers.
Fifth grade teachers.
Office staff.
Miss Hailee being the gingerbread man.
Miss Hailee being the gingerbread man.
Christmas at Maple Ridge continued!
4 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Students participating in Christmas activity.
Students participating in Christmas activity.
Santa reading a story to students at Maple Ridge.
Choir students.
Ms. Wilde's first graders on Santa Day.
Students participating in Christmas activity.
Students participating in Christmas activity.
Students participating in Christmas activity.
Students participating in Christmas activity.
More Christmas at Maple Ridge!
4 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Grinch Day in Ms. Hardy's room.
Decorating sugar cookies in Ms. Chappell's room.
Decorating sugar cookies in Ms. Chappell's room.
Decorating sugar cookies in Ms. Chappell's room.
Christmas activity in Ms. Chappell's room.
Christmas activity in Ms. Chappell's room.
Christmas activity in Ms. Chappell's room.
Christmas activity in Ms. Chappell's room.
First grader in Christmas pajamas.
Mrs. Berbert playing the piano and the Christmas choir.

Christmas at Maple Ridge! So many fun things happened in December!

4 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Maple Ridge choir.
Ugly Christmas mug party in Mrs. Berglund's room.
Ugly Christmas mug party in Mrs. Berglund's room.
Ugly Christmas mug party in Mrs. Berglund's room.
Ugly Christmas mug party in Mrs. Berglund's room.
Ugly Christmas mug party in Mrs. Berglund's room.
Christmas in Mrs. Rasmussen's room.
Christmas in Mrs. Rasmussen's room.
Decorating sugar cookies in Ms. Chappell's room.
Decorating sugar cookies in Ms. Chappell's room.
We are collecting food for the food bank in Provo in honor of Nate Carr. Please send canned goods to school with your student. Mrs. Rasmussen (3rd grade) is collecting the food and it can be taken to her classroom or dropped of in the office. We are so happy to continue our tradition of "doing something great in honor of Nate!"
5 months ago, Maple Ridge Elementary
Nate Carr food drive. December 8-19. Drop off food to Mrs. Rasmussen's 3rd grade.